Critical Reasoning

OG 12: #63

When hypnotized subjects are told they are deaf and are then asked whether they can hear the hypnotist, they reply, "No". Some theorists try to explain this result by arguing that the selves of hypnotized subjects are dissociated into separate parts, and that the part that is deaf is dissociated from the part that replies.

Which of the following challenges indicates the most serious weakness in the attempted explanation described above?

(A) Why are the observed facts in need of any special explanation?
(B) Why do the subjects appears to accept the hypnotist's suggestion that they are deaf?
(C) Why do hypnotized subjects all respond the same way in the situation described?
(D) Why does the part that replies not answer, "Yes"?
(E) Why are the separate parts of the self the same for all subjects?

OA: D

Hi cbenk121,

Notice that, in order for the dissociated parts theory to work, at least some of those dissociated parts have to be in communication with each other. Othwerwise, the subject would be unable to respond (because he or she would be deaf).

The part that is (or has been told to be) deaf has not heard (or, under the suggestive state of hypnotism, wants to believe or behave or convey as though it has not heard). But, in order to reply, the part that replies must be in communication with a part that has heard. But, if that is the case, it would mean that the part that is replying has assimilated (through communication with another part) the information in the query "have you heard?". And, if it has assimilated that information, the response should be "yes".

Hi testluv,

Thanks for your response. So basically the theory says that the person is split apart. But, if the person was truly split, he or she would be aware that there's a deaf part and a hearing part (or at least the deaf part would not interfere in the channel between hearing and speaking). OR, the person would not respond at all (communication between hearing and processing it split, i.e. deaf).

But the person responds "No", indicating that the parts are not truely split, because the deaf part is interacting with the channel between hearing and speaking. Therefore, asking "Why don't they answer Yes?" points that weakness out.

Yes, indeed, that was exactly what I was saying...thanks for putting it so concisely!